Wednesday, January 30, 2002
Things have been slightly hectic, but an official btv update will go out this week. I've been filling orders and getting things ready for our new distributor, Redeye, which will become the exclusive distributor for all btv cds in March. This will make our releases available to most independent record shops, large chains (Tower, Best Buy, etc), and internet superstores. I think this will be a very exciting opportunity for the label and will hopefully make it very easy for everyone to buy our releases.
Make sure to see The Trouble with Sweeney at the Grape Street Pub in Manyunk on Friday, all of you Philadelphians.
The interactive compilation project is still on-going. The first interactive media segments have been delivered from Matt Owens of Volume Oneand Lee Misenheimer of Destroy Rock City, as well as the songs from The Album Leaf, Prospekt, Ester Drang, and Reels of White Softly Flow. A total of 8 songs and interactive segments will be included with a super-deluxe booklet. Release date in the Fall? On sais jamais (one never knows)...
I saw Brotherhood of the Wolf last night. Perhaps one of the strangest movies in recent times, a French Revolutionary period horror martial arts film. It was entertaining, for sure, and definitely bizarre, but I'm not sure that it was a good movie.
:::scott:::
Posted by Scott @ 10:58 AM CST
Saturday, January 26, 2002
Tonight, Denison Witmer plays The Chameleon in Lancaster, PA with The Innocence Mission. Hope to see you there...
:::scott:::
Posted by Scott @ 12:19 PM CST
Tuesday, January 22, 2002
sorry for the delay in posting. i'm coming back to the U.S. tomorrow. i've spent the last five days or so in copenhagen visiting friends and seeing the city. tonight we are going to see stars of the lid and loscil (both on kranky) who are playing at a local club with some projected films.
there is not much official news, but there will be some big announcements in the next week or so, i promise.
:::scott:::
Posted by Scott @ 11:51 AM CST
Tuesday, January 8, 2002
I'll be going to Copenhagen and Sweden on Friday, back on the 23rd. Online ordering will only be slightly delayed, but will be back on track soon after. Willis and I will wreak havoc in Copenhagen with all of my fine friends there. Beware.
The Trouble with Sweeney : Dear Life is on a top 10 list at rollingstone.com. Believe the hype! This record delivers.
Speaking of top 10s, here's my inevitable top 10 list for 2001:
1. The Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-la-la Band : Born Into Trouble As The Sparks Fly Upwards (Constellation)
This is the bleakest, most beautiful record from this Montreal collective, topping all previous releases from Godspeed You Black Emperor! of which this ensemble are all members.
2. Mogwai : Rock Action (Matador)
Mogwai sings, plays beautifully. Sine Wave is the best introductory track of the year. Dave Fridman production. What more can you want?!
3. Low : Things we lost in the fire
Their most beautiful release to date. It rocks hard, if that's possible for Low, and then falls away into a perfect near-nothingness. This is the record for cold winter nights.
4. Unwed Sailor : The Faithful Anchor (Lovesick)
The long-awaited full-length delivers the beautiful instrumentals that delve into Daniel Lanois/Brian Eno inspired ambiance just often enough to make this a truly unique and interesting record.
5. AM/FM : Getting into Sinking (Polyvinyl)
The only indie rock band on Polyvinyl dishes out beautiful harmonies and sugary sweet pop melodies. The hooks are plenty.
6. U.S. Maple : Acre Thrills (Drag City)
This entirely weird record is an unbelievable shorthand of post-math rock brilliance scrawled in an insanely captivating way. The 180g vinyl sounds amazing.
7. Kings of Convenience : Quiet is the New Loud (Astralwerks)
Norwegian duo with wonderful harmonies and catchy quiet pop songs. They are often compared to Simon and Garfunkel. Quiet is the New Loud is just an amazing record.
8. Jeff Magnum : Live at Jittery Joe's (Orange Twin)
While I wait for the next Neutral Milk Hotel release, this live morsel feeds my jonesing. But, why does my mp3 bootleg show sound more interesting than this one? Still amazing, including some songs I've not ever heard.
9. The Appleseed Cast : Low Level Owl, Vol. 2 (Deep Elm)
They claim Vol. 1 and 2 were recorded in a space of 3 weeks. I'm unbelieving. Vol. 2 sounds so thick and lush. The only thing better would be to combine the best of vol. 2 with the couple of amazing tracks on vol. 1 to make a super record. Is emo dead? It is for Appleseed Cast.
10. Fugazi : The Argument (Dischord)
More like Red Medicine. Guy is the secret genius and his ideas shine here. Better than End Hits. Don't we all love this band?!
11. Explosions in the sky : Those who tell the truth... (Temporary Residence)
Some fine "mog-rock." These guys successfully mix the instrumental sounds of their rock idols Mogwai and Godspeed You Black Emperor. A super cheesy sample from Thin Red Line nearly kills it for me, but the tracks are so strong that I nearly forget this.
(obvious note: If they weren't on my label, Ester Drang : Goldewest, Damien Jurado : Four Songs, Denison Witmer : Of Joy and Sorrow, The Trouble with Sweeney : Dear Life would have surely made the list.)
:::scott:::
Posted by Scott @ 04:08 PM CST
Thursday, January 3, 2002
Randall from Jetenderpaul had one of the strangest and most unique Christmas presents ever. Apparently, his in-laws ordered him a two hour monkey party with four actual real live monkeys. Click here to see Randall and the baby spider monkey and here to see Randall with Wyatt the monkey. It really makes you want to buy all of the Jetenderpaul releases...right?!
12 February 2002 will be the date that Damien Jurado : Four Songs and Unwed Sailor : Firecracker will be available in local record shops. Look for them then or order direct.
:::scott:::
Posted by Scott @ 06:29 PM CST
Wednesday, January 2, 2002
greetings on the '02 folks. some groundbreaking news that is actually old news...joey from the trouble with sweeney proposed to his fine girlfriend reyna and she accepted, so they're engaged. big congratulations to them. thanks to everyone who came out to see the big trouble with sweeney new year's show and those who came to see denison witmer and don peris in lancaster. props to anyone who stayed for reels of white. for that show, zoetropolis and the lancaster music collective got a lot of much needed cash and will be able to keep doing shows. this is definitely one cool lancaster venue for music and apparently they have simpsons trivia on sunday nights. sounds hot. thanks especially to mike and the lmc.
last night i saw the royal tenenbaums for the second time. this movie is just amazingly witty. you must go see it. gene hackman is unbelievable in his role and owen wilson is soooooo funny.
wildcats? wildcats...
:::scott:::
Posted by Scott @ 10:40 AM CST
